Village Board Denies Senior Housing Plans
The New Lenox Village Board voted 4-2 Monday against amending an agreement around Laraway Road and Berkot's, which was necessary to provide special use for a senior housing complex.
After nearly half a year of debating a senior housing proposal, the New Lenox Village Board voted against it Monday.
The project would have been located on a 3-acre lot behind the Speedway gas station at Calistoga Drive and Laraway Road. The board would have needed to approve it as a special use, and to do that would have needed to amend the annexation agreement, a move members weren't willing to make.
Trustee Dave Smith made the motion to not amend the annexation agreement, and was joined in that opinion by Mayor Tim Baldermann and trustees Nancy Dye and Keith Madsen. Trustees Dave Butterfield and Ray Tuminello voted against that, and trustee Annette Bowden was absent.
Based on that vote, the board also decided to not offer a special use, which was required for the building.
Developer Bill Bolker wanted to build a 50-unit, age- and income-restricted building funded by private companies that would receive federal tax credits.
The board members have maintained throughout discussions that they do not oppose senior housing, but they don't believe the chosen location is a good fit. In fact, the Village Board approved a similar senior apartment building last year, though it didn't receive the necessary tax credits to move forward.
For months, neighbors in the adjacent Water Chase subdivision have voiced their opposition to the project, agreeing it wasn't the best spot for senior housing. Currently, New Lenox Township operates a senior complex but has a waiting list of more than 70 residents.
At previous meetings, members argued that a senior complex, which wouldn't generate sales tax, shouldn't go into the spot that is currently zoned for a commercial property.
Bolker was given one last chance to address the board Monday night and said there are plenty of businesses in town that don't generate sales tax, and that the board shouldn't "use the dollar bill to stop people from helping people in need."
"In my whole entire building career I've tried to do what's best for the village," Bolker said.
Baldermann thanked Bolker for his dedication to New Lenox, but said the board certainly doesn't have a history of saying the dollar comes first, pointing to the approval of Silver Cross Hospital in a location originally planned entirely for commercial development.
Read More
- Developer Pleads Case to Village Over Senior Housing Proposal
- Senior Housing Could Be a No-Go at Calistoga
- Senior Housing Plans: Is Laraway the Right Spot?
- Mayor: Senior Housing Complaints 'Not Factual'
- Residents Again Debate Senior Housing Project
- Vote: Should Senior Housing Go Near Berkot's?
- More Senior Housing Proposed for New Lenox
- 'Shame on You!' Residents Upset With Senior Housing Recommendation
- Senior Housing Near Berkot's? Residents, Developer Debate
- More Senior Housing Proposed for New Lenox
- After Parking Lot Changes, Board Gives Senior Development Green Light
In This article
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Speedway
800 W Maple St, New Lenox, IL -
New Lenox Township
1100 S Cedar Rd, New Lenox, IL -
Silver Cross Hospital
1900 Silver Cross Blvd, New Lenox, IL -
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Kimberly
8:51 am on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
I can't say its a surprise, but I find it disappointing. New Lenox needs more Senior Housing (or Old Folks Home, as Trustee Dave Smith says) & I found that location to be ideal. Walking distance to a grocery store, hair salon, barber, full service restaurant, nail salon, dentist & sandwich shop. Two weeks ago, Smith stated that someone will build an Old Folks Home in New Lenox & I have a question for Smith. Who has plans in progress to build Senior Housing and where???
Once again the south end of New Lenox is found to be, not good enough! I'm so tired of being the forgotten side of town & trust me, I'd love to move. I'm just not willing to take such a huge loss on my home, which was appraised at $412,000 in 2008 and is now appraised (as of 1month ago) at $297,000. We need new development on Laraway Road, but nobody wants to build on the wrong side of the tracks.
Everything is about Route 30 ..... well drive down Route 30 in what would be considered the downtown area, & look at all the empty buildings ..... its a joke.
Again, I am extremely disappointed in this board of trustees & the Mayor, I feel they made the wrong decision.
I appreciate what Mr. Bolker has done for New Lenox over the years, especially the Performing Arts Pavillion. None of the Triple Play Concerts, Movie Nights & other entertainment would be available without Bill and Claudia Bolker. Just to be clear, I have never met Mr. Bolker, I just agreed with his idea, plan & location for Senior Housing.
NL Resident
8:25 am on Wednesday, June 27, 2012
You wouldn't feel so appreciative of Mr. Bolker if you lived in one of his homes. Also, it was least he could do for the community after taking money from the new homeowners in his development for a club that never was....
Kelly Holt
9:03 am on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
I think had they presented a better looking building, it may have been better received. Make it look more like Boca del Vista , stage 3. Looks like something out of Hogans Hero's garrison. To ominous-bad elevation drawing.
New Lenox Mom
9:53 am on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
It would not have mattered what the drawing had looked like. They intended to vote this way from the beginning. Once again, this village board doesn't give a rat's a$$ about seniors or our veterans (video gambling vote). That location was perfect for a housing complex for seniors. Dave Smith should be ashamed of himself, although it doesn't surprise me that he would say something like that. Route 30 is a huge joke, nothing but empty and run down buildings. Of course the main reason for that (other than the economy) is the building owners would rather sit on empty buildings with no income than come down in their ridiculous dream of overpriced rental rates. This town is quickly becoming a joke, however, it is a great place for out of the way drug deals and drunk drivers.
Nancy Weigel
9:44 am on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
To the surprise of absolutely no one. Maybe the board should identify specific sites that they feel would be appropriate for senior housing. All seniors are not elderly old folks. Some of us would like to stay in the New Lenox community. Just because we are over 62 does not mean that we are not or cannot be productive residents. I feel this vote was a slap in the face of Bill and Claudia Bolker. And, yes, I have been a friend of the Bolkers ever since I moved to this community 36 years ago.
Tony
8:58 pm on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Just remember who supports seniors when election time rolls around, thats the only time they care about the seniors.There should be enough seniors in New Lenox to shake up the apple tree a little bit.Just remember the grey fox movement and some politicians will remember it for a long time.
Marie
6:46 am on Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Nancy, patronage and favoritism has no place in government. What would you think of a gas station being plopped in the middle of a residential area because the owner was friends with some trustees, or because we need more gas stations to serve the drivers in town?
New Lenox Mom
9:59 am on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
On another note with senior housing...whatever happened to the development at Laraway and Schoolhouse? That was approved over a year ago, yet that corner remains an undeveloped eyesore! Michael, do you know?
Michael Sewall
10:46 am on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
@New Lenox Mom -- I make reference to it in the article. Basically, it never got approval by the state and thus never got the tax credits it needed to go forward. What I've heard, though, is that the developers want to re-submit the plans in hope of getting approval this time around.
Marie
10:47 am on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
The board made the right decision. There are other areas zoned residential and better suited for senior living.
Nancy Weigel
7:07 pm on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Marie, where are these areas and is the property for sale?
Marie
6:11 am on Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Nancy, I recall reading about the proposed development just west of schoolhouse, on he north side of Laraway, as including age-restricted buildings along with single family homes, and possibly a church. That proposal has been approved, if I am not mistaken. I am sure a phone call to the village would confirm this.
Kelly Holt
11:27 am on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Anyone remember "Logan's Run"? Now, THAT was a movie.
Rt 30 "business district" is a huge embarrassment. An update of code could clean that up- unified signage requirements. Sidewalks? Bike path along tracks? Ye Old Tyme street lights with flower baskets? Gondolas on Hickory Creek? Organ grinders selling peanuts?
Too bad we blew all our cash on excessive City 'Taj Mahal' Hall instead of reinvesting it in all the city.
Bolker- scale it down 75% and resubmit- it'll pass.
Kimberly
4:55 pm on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Kelly - I thought you were describing Frankfort until I read Organ Grinders selling peanuts, lol.
It doesn't matter what Mr. Bolker would do, this board will never allow him to build Senior Housing on that site.
I loved Trustee Smiths comments at the end of the meeting. He stated that they don't get a pension or health benefits, and the salary he's collected over the last 20 years from his position on the Board couldn't even buy a decent car, and that they do the job for the fenefit of the community. My opinion is that he ran for a seat on the Board because he has an agenda, all politicians have an agenda, and its obvious he has little respect for senior citizens.
Marie
6:16 am on Wednesday, June 27, 2012
I am not a fan of some of the trustees by any means, but changing the zoning for one parcel in a commercial area not only changes the entire scope of the development, but is a slap in the face to seniors when you think they're just worth sitting next to a gas station in a three story building with shuffleboard and a lunch room downstairs.
There are better areas, and I think seniors deserve a better location than what was proposed.
rae
1:29 am on Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Move to Monee and then see how "bad" you have it...m
Reality Bytes!
11:31 am on Wednesday, June 27, 2012
There are plenty of subdivisions around that were abandoned or have not taken off, several around the area that could provide a site for this type of developement. The old Howell airport with one townhome is a good starting point, or the 4 home subdivision just to the east of it on the north side of Laraway road. There are plenty of parcels of land available in New Lenox. Take a look around and talk to some of the builders who have land suitable for their needs, and maybe the board can give them a little help... You can't tell me that some of these builders who are sinking in this economy wouldn't be glad to unload some properties they were intending to build on..